1 John 2:1-2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
As verse 1 says, the goal is to not sin ("I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin"). But the reality is that we all do sin, which is why John goes on to say that "if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father". This is the amazing good news that we need to cling to. Jesus is our "advocate", and "the propitiation for our sins" (verse 2). He is an advocate in the sense of being on our side, pleading our cause. He is also our propitiation, meaning that he appeases the judgment of God. All the guilt that we deserve has been put onto Jesus. This is amazing, undeserved mercy. It is also good news because it does not rest on our own abilities (which experience has shown to be lacking!), but on God's abilities.
Jesus, thank you for Your atoning sacrifice.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
As verse 1 says, the goal is to not sin ("I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin"). But the reality is that we all do sin, which is why John goes on to say that "if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father". This is the amazing good news that we need to cling to. Jesus is our "advocate", and "the propitiation for our sins" (verse 2). He is an advocate in the sense of being on our side, pleading our cause. He is also our propitiation, meaning that he appeases the judgment of God. All the guilt that we deserve has been put onto Jesus. This is amazing, undeserved mercy. It is also good news because it does not rest on our own abilities (which experience has shown to be lacking!), but on God's abilities.
Jesus, thank you for Your atoning sacrifice.